Parrots do not migrate the way many birds do in the sense of flying vast distances across the ocean to a warmer climate. Rather, parrots engage in semi-migratory behavior, moving to new areas within their continent when the monsoonal rains replenish water sources, or to where the best food source is often located.
The swift parrot and the orange bellied parrot in Tasmania make their way across the treacherous waters of Bass Straight after breeding in order to spend the winter season on the mainland. Although migrating away from the cold Tasmanian winter winds may seem like a good strategy, these birds are often faced with many dangers on the way to the mainland. Just a few of the many obstacles these parrots face include the potential bad weather blowing them off course, or arriving at their destination to find poor conditions and scarce supplies of food.
It comes as no surprise then that these species are both counted amongst our most threatened birds. Migratory birds such as these require good conditions not just in their place of origin, but also in their migratory destinations as well as all of the stops they make along the way.
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